US2716807A - Can opener - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1955 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 A. CARP CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1955 CARP 2,716,897

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 8, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States Patent 'CAN OPENER Arthur Carp, Ferguson, Mo. Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,931

12-Claims. (Cl.30-15.5)

This invention relates to can openers, and more par- T ticular'ly to can openers o'f the type comprising a pair of pivoted'levers, one carrying a'turning cutter and the other carrying a traction wheel, and operable if desired independently of wall brackets or other supports, except the can itself which is to'be opened.

This invention is an improvement upon the can opener constructions shown in my U. S. Patents 2,573,400 and 2,600,615, dated October 30, 1951, and June 17, 1952, respectively, and in my copending U. S. application entitled Can Opener, Serial-No. 357,319, filed May 25, 1953.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a can'opener of the class described, which is of simplified-construction and simpler to operate; the provision of a can opener of this class which is so constructed as inherently to assure its proper app'lication to a can to be opened; the provision of a can-opener of .this class which is soconstructed that the traction wheel is capable of springing movement relative to the cutter when the levers are closed on one another, to allow the can opener to compensate for irregularities .of a can, but which is held against such springing movement until the levers are-closed so as to facilitate the positive piercing of the top of the can by the cutter and positive and accurate clinching of the-opener to the can; the provision of a can opener of this class which is at an essential point self-cleaning, and wherein provision is made for facilitating the removal of the traction Wheel for such cleaning or replacement. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions 1."

hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

-In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the can opener as viewed from the inside showing it in fully open position before application to a'can;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the can "opener as viewed from the outside showing it in fully open position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing anintermediate position occupied by parts of the can opener as it is manipulated to pierce the top of a can;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing 'parts in the intermediate position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 3, showing the opener :as it appears in closed position, but not on a can;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4, but showing parts in the Fig. 5 closed position;

Fig. 7 is an edgewise elevational view of the can opener (as viewed from the right side of Fig. 1) and showing the opener as preliminarily applied to a can, parts of the opener being broken away and shown in section, ,the can being fragmentarily shown in full elevation;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating the opener 2 in closed position, having pierced the top of a can and ready for traverse'movernent, the can again being shown in fullelevation.

"Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of 'the drawings.

The terms up and down will 'be used hereinafter in relation to the device when operatively applied to an upright can, as shown in Figs. 7 "and 9.

The inside of the can opener is defined as its side which is toward the can when applied 'to a can, and the outside of the can opener is the side away from the can.

Referring to the drawings, a can opener constructed in accordance with this invention is shown to comprise a pair of pivotally connected levers '1 and 3. The firstlever '1 comprises a plate 5 having an outside flange '7 along one edge. At the upper end of the flange 7 isahandle grip 9 extending inward essentially-at a right angle. The plate 5 has a slot 11 entering from its side edge opposite the flange 7 and separating the plate into an upper-portion 13 and a lower portion 15. The upper portion constitutes a resilient cantilever arm or plate portion. It is normally coplanar with .the lower plate portion 15, but is adapted to be-sprung out of 'theplane of the lower portion, and also to be sprung vertically to some extent toward and away from the lower portion. The slot 11 is preferably of the configuration disclosed in myaforernentioned copending application. The flange 7 may have an extension-at its lower end formed as a pointed and sidewardly sharpened .punch 17 for piercinga hole in the top of a can.

A toothed traction wheel 19 is rotary on the inside of the arm 13 of lever 1 adjacent the free end of the arm opposite the flange 7. The traction wheel has a hub 21 (see Fig. 7) which is threaded on a screw 23 extending from an operating key 25. The thread is such that turning of the key in can opening direction (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6.) 'tends to tighten the wheel on the key. The arm 13 has an opening receiving the hub 21 and is formed with an outwardly projecting annular flange 27 around the opening providing a bearing for the hub 21. A shoulder at the inner end of the key prevents axial movement of the wheel and key assembly in .the bearing 27. In the arm 13 is a hole '31 which is crossed by the periphery of the traction wheel. This hole serves the purpose of collecting dirt which might otherwise gather under the traction wheel and which without .the hole would gradually foul the underside of the teethof the wheel. The side of the hole 31 functions as a scraper to remove this material and facilitate its escape. It also serves to accept a nail or the like to anchor the traction wheel against rotation to facilitate unscrewing the key '25 from the wheel. Upon unscrewing the key, the wheel may be removed for purposes of cleaning it'and bearing 27. The lower portion 15 of the plate 5 is formed with an inwardly extending shoe 33 located at the lower edge of the slot 11 and toward the open end of the slot. The inner edge of this shoe is eoncavely formed or zcurved as indicated at 35 to correspond approximately to the curvatures of the cylindrical walls of cans. The shoe also is inclined downward away from the open end of the slot, as appearsin Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The second lever 3 comprises a plate 37 having an outside flange 39 along one edge. At the upper end of the flange 39 is a handle .grip 40 extending inward essentially at a right angle. The plate 37 is formed to have an inwardly olfset lower portion or land 41 and an outwardly offset upper .portion 43. A rotary cutter is mounted on the inside of the upper portion 43 of plate 37 toward the flanged edge of the plate. The cutter is rotary on a stud 47 (see Fig. 7) mounted on a protrusion or bulged portion 49 of the upper portion 43 of plate 37. It is held on the stud by a screw 51 threaded in the end of the stud. The cutter is backed by an integral flange 53 providing an annular groove 55. The inside face of the cutter is beveled as indicated at 57 and the cutter axis is downwardly inclined at an angle corresponding to the bevel. The upper corner portion of the plate 37 opposite its flanged edge is struck inward to provide a tongue 61 adapted to engage the top of a can head 13. The tongue projects over the upper edge of plate 5. It is preferably made downwardly convex, as appears in Figs. 1, 3 and 5.

The first and second plates 5 and 37 are pivotally connected at 63 as by means of a bolt and nut fastener, the bolt extending through the lower portion of plate 5 and the land 41 of plate 37, with plate 5 on the inside of plate 37 and flanges 7 and 39 extending outward at opposite edges of the opener. The land 41 is in face-toface engagement with the outside face of the lower portion 15 of plate 5 (see Figs. 7 and 9). Hence, the upper portion 43 of plate 37 is normally outwardly offset from the arm 13 (see Fig. 7).

In the upper portion 43 of plate 37 is a slot 65 which receives the bearing 27. The first lever 1 is swingable with respect to the second lever 3 between the open position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, which is determined by engagement of bearing 27 with the end of slot 65 away from the flange 3S, and the closed position shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9, which is determined by the engagement of the edge of plate 37 opposite flange 39 with the flange 7 of plate 5. The slot 65 is so formed that hearing 27 is engageable with a cam portion 67 of the lower edge of the slot toward the end of the slot away from flange 39 to hold the arm 13 against downward springing movement in its plane as lever 1 is swung closed. Portion 69 of the lower edge of the slot 65 toward the flange 39 is relieved in relation to cam portion 67 so that when the lever 1 is in the closed position, clearance between bearing 27 and portion 69 is provided to allow downward springing movement in its plane of arm 13. For this purpose, portion 67 is curved on an arc centered substantially in pivot 63 and having a radius corresponding substantially to the distance from the axis of pivot 63 to the nearest point on the periphery of hearing 27. The bottom of portion 69 is spaced from the axis of pivot 63 a distance less than this radius.

The lower portion or land 41 of plate 37 is of such outline that in the closed position of the lever 1 it is wholly below the arm 13 (see Fig. 5). Accordingly, when the lever 1 is closed, arm 13 is free for springing movement out of its normal plane away from the cutter toward the upper portion 43 of plate 37. When the lever 1 is open. land 41 is in face-to-face engagement with arm 13 and holds the arm against such outward springing movement. As the lever 1 is swung from open to closed position, land 41 holds arm 13 against springing movement until the lever 1 reaches the closed position. Also, as the lever 1, is swung from open to closed position, arm 13 is held from springing laterally with respect to the axis of the traction wheel downward in its plane away from the cutter by the engagement of the bearing 27 in the narrow portion 67 of slot 65. However, when the lever 1 approaches the closed position, bearing 27 rides off the lower edge portion 67 of slot 65, and the arm 13 and the traction wheel may then spring downward away from the cutter. See Fig. 4, showing the bearing 27 riding off the end of 67 as the lever nears the closed position.

Extending outward from the lower end of plate 5 at right angles to the plate are tongues 71 and 73. Either tongue may be placed under the edge of a crown cap for lifting the cap. Tongue 71 is cooperable with punch 17 for punching a hole in the top of a can.

To open a cam C such as shown in Figs. 7--9, the levers before the lever 1 reaches the closed position,

1 and 3 are swung apart to open position, if not already in open position, and the can opener is applied to the can by hooking the cutter 45 on the can head B and allowing the entire opener to hang down alongside the can with the tongue 61 bearing on top of the head (see Fig. 7). The can opener inherently swings inward toward the can, pivoting at the point of engagement of the cutting edge of the cutter with the top of the can so that the high end of the shoe 33 comes into engagement with the side of the can (see the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 8). The can opener then inherently pivots about the point of engagement of the high end of the shoe 33 with the side of the can so that the curved edge of the shoe comes into engagement with the wall of the can (see the solid line position illustrated in Fig. 8). At this time the tongue 61 overlies the bead B. The stated pivoting movements of the opener result in proper positioning of the cutter with respect to the cam and in proper positioning of the traction wheel for engagement with the bottom of the can bead when later lever 1 is swung closed. Free swinging movement of the opener on the can is prevented by the aligning actions of the tongue 61 and the high end of the curve 35 of shoe 33.

Then the lever 1 is swung to the closed position to dispose the traction wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter by grasping the handle grips 9 and 4-0 and moving the grip 9 toward the grip 41). As this occurs, the arm 13 is initially held against springing movement out of its normal plane in the direction away from the cutter by the engagement of land 41 with the arm. It is also initially held against springing movement in its plane away from the cutter by the riding of the bearing 27 on the portion 67 of the lower edge of slot 65. In this respect, it will be observed that portion 67 of the lower edge of the slot acts as a support for the bearing 27 to prevent the arm 13 from springing down. With the arm 13 held against springing movement out of its plane away from the cutter, it is assured that the traction wheel is retained in position for being forced tightly into proper engagement with the bottom of the can head and also causing the cutter positively to pierce the can without giving way due to any springing action in its plane of arm 13. Thus the traction wheel comes into solid gripping engagement with the bottom of the can bead B and the cutter is positively forced downward to pierce the top of the can. This piercing occurs while the arm 13 is still held against springing downward away from the cutter by the engagement of bearing 27 with portion 67 of the lower edge of slot 65. This results in full force being brought to bear on the cutter to insure that it pierces the top of the can. If the arm 13 were not held against the springing downward as lever 1 is swung closed, under some circumstances of strong can tops the arm 13 might simply spring downward and relieve the downward force of the cutter on the top of the can to such an extent that the cutter would not pierce the can. Thus reliability of piercing is effected.

Upon final closing of the lever 1, the can head B is received in the groove 55 of the cutter. With the lever 1 closed, the opener takes a grip on the head by the engagement of the traction wheel with the bottom of the bead, engagement of the flange 53 with the top of the bead, and the engagement of the inside beveled face of the cutter with the inside of the bead. The grip is a resilient grip since the arm 13 is released for springing downward and outward away from the cutter as indicated by the arrow D in Fig. 9 (compare with Fig. 7). Traction is thereby established between the wheel and the can so that by turning the key 25 with one hand in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, the traction wheel is caused to advance around the bottom of the bead. This forces the cutter smoothly to trim out the top of the can. The drag resistance of the cutter on iever 3 tends to swing this lever toward lever 1. The advance of the traction wheel tends to swing the lever l toward the lever 3. Accordingly, the levers hold themselves in closed position as the key is turned, and it is not necessary to use the other .hand to hold the levers together. Thus, the other hand is left free to hold the can steady. The arm 13,, being released forspringing movement, isadapted to yield further outward and .downward in the direction indicated by the arrow in .Fig. 9 when the traction wheel encounters a hump such as the canseam orany other irregularity. After the top has been cut from the can, the rotation of the'keymay be reversed to cause lever 1 to swing away from lever 3, thus allowing removal of the opener from the can.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the parts 7, 13 and 15 of lever 1 function byrelative springing movements. Accordingly, the material of which these parts is composed is case-hardened and then drawn to produce a suitable temper for the ,purpose. It will of course be understood that other methods of producing a springy condition may be employed.

An important use of the flange '53 is that it receives strong reaction from the traction wheel 19. This ensures that the cutter 45 operates to cut by a rolling action, even though the bearing for the cutter is clogged or semifrozen because of acids and juices. It is important that a cutter wheel turn; otherwise the cutting action is by sliding, with the result that slivers are torn off from the metal and fall into the food, or the wheel becomes excessively wornat the cutting point.

Another feature of the invention is that although the opener is .preferably of the hand type (as distinguished from the wall type) it can be used either'by holding the can and allowing the opener to traverse the top of the can, or by holding the opener as on a wall bracket or in the hand and allowing the can to rotate.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not "in a limiting sense.

'I claim:

1. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever having an arm assembly carrying a traction wheel, the second lever carrying a rotary cutter, the first lever being swingable relative "to the second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said arm assembly being adapted for first and second springing movements away from the cutter, the first one of said springing movements being transverse with respect to the pivotal movements of the levers and the second springing movement being substantially parallel to said pivotal movements, the second lever having a first formation adapted for engagement with the arm assembly initially to hold it against said first transverse springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, the arm assembly being released for said first springing movement when the first lever is in closed position, and the second lever also'having a second formation adapted for engagement with the arm assembly to hold it against said second parallel springing movement as the lever is swung from open to closed position, the arm assembly being also released for said second springing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

2. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever having a plate portion carrying a traction wheel, the second carrying -a rotary cutter, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said plate portion being adapted for springing movement out of its .normal plane away from the cutter, and the secondleverlmving 6 aportion adapted .for engagement .with vsaidplate por- .tion to hold .itagainst said .springing movement as-the first lever isswung .from open to closed 'position, said plate portion beingreleased for saidspringing movement when the first lever is .in closed ,position.

3. .A .can vopener comprising .first and second ,pivoted levers, the firstleverhaving an arm carryinga traction wheel, sthesecond carrying a :rotary cutter, the first lever .being -swingable relative .to the second .from an open to a .closed .position to dispose .the wheel .in .cooperative relation to the .cutter, said .arm being adapted for springing movementlaterally with respect :to .the .axis .of the traction .wheel away .from the cutter, .and the levers having interengaging means .for holding the .arm against said springing movementas tthe first lever is vswungfrom open :to closed position, the arm being released for said springing movement when the first lever is in closed .position.

4. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever having a ,plate ,portion carrying a traction Wheel, the second carrying a rotary =cutter, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed ,position to dispose the wheel (in cooperative relation -to the cutter, .said plate portion being adapted for springing movement out of its normalplane away from the cutter and also for springing movement in -its plane away from the cutter, the second leverlhaving aportion adapted'for'facewise engagement with said plate portion to hold it against the first-mentioned springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, the levers having other interengaging means for holding .the plate portion against the second-rnentioned springing movement as the'first lever is swungfrom open to closed position, the .plate .portion 'being released for r both stated springing movements when the .first lever is in closed position.

.5. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever-having an arm carrying a traction wheel on -the inside of the opener, the second .lever comprisingaplate having a portion ofiset outward "from said arm and carrying a rotary .cutter on the inside of the opener, .the'first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed position to .dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said arm being adapted for springing movement outward away from the cutter and toward said offset portion of the second -lever 'pla'teythe lower portion of the second .lever plate being adapted "for engagement with the outside of the'arm'to hold the arm againstsaid springing movement as thefirst lever is swung from open to closedposition, said lower portion of :the second lever 'plate being clear of the arm when the first lever is in closed position so that said arm is thereupon released for said springing movement.

6. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the "first lever "having an arm carrying a traction wheel on theinside of the opener, the second lever comprising a plate on the outside of the arm and carrying a rotary cutter on'the inside of the opener, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open position to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said arm being adapted for springing movement laterallywith respect to the axis of the traction wheel away from the cutter, said arm having a'bearing for the wheel extending outward from the arm and received in a slot in the second lever plate, said bearing being engageable with an edge portion of the slottohold the 'arm against said springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, and said slot being formed to provide clearance for the bearing so as to release the arm for said springing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

7. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever having an arm carrying a tractionwheel -onthe inside of the opener, the second lever comprising a plate having a portion oifset outward from said arm and carrying a rotary cutter on the inside of the opener, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said arm being adapted for springing movement outward away from the cutter and toward said offset portion of the second lever plate, the lower portion of the second lever plate being adapted for engagement with the outside of the arm to hold the arm against said springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, said lower portion of the second lever plate being clear of the arm when the first lever is in closed position so that said arm is thereupon released for said springing movement, said arm also being adapted for springing movement laterally with respect to the axis of the traction wheel away from the cutter, said arm having a bearing for the wheel extending outward from the arm and received in a slot in the second lever plate, said bearing being engageable with an edge portion of the slot to hold the arm against said springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, and said slot being formed to provide clearance for the hearing so as to release the arm for said springing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

8. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate formed with a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper and lower portions, the upper portion normally being substantially coplanar with the lower portion but adapted to spring outward from the plane of the lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on the inside of the upper portion toward its free end, the second lever comprising a second plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plate on the outside of the first plate toward the free end of the lower portion, said second plate having a lower portion in face-to-face engagement with the outside of the lower portion of the first plate and an upper portion which is outwardly offset from the first plate, a cutter rotary on the inside of the upper portion of the second plate, the first lever being swingable relative to the second lever from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, the lower portion of the second plate being adapted for faceto-face engagement with the upper portion of the first plate as the first lever swings from open toward closed position to hold the upper portion of the first plate against outward springing movement until the first lever reaches the closed position, whereupon the lower portion of the second plate clears the upper portion of the first plate to allow outward springing movement thereof.

9. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate formed with a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper and lower portions, the upper portion being adapted to spring in its plane toward and away from the lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on the inside of the upper portion toward its free end, a second lever comprising a second plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plate on the outside of the first plate toward the free end of the lower portion, a cutter rotary on the inside of the upper portion of the second plate, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, said upper portion of the first plate having a bearing for the wheel extending outward from said upper portion and received in a slot in the second plate, said bearing being engageable with a lower edge portion of the slot to hold the upper portion of the first plate against said springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, and said slot being formed to provide clearance for the bearing so as to release said upper portion of the first plate for said springing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

10. A can opener havinga first lever comprising a first plate formed with a slot entering from one side edge and dividing it into upper and lower portions, the upper portion normally being substantially coplanar with the lower portion but adapted to spring outward from the plane of the lower portion, and being also adapted to spring in its plane toward and away from the lower portion, a traction wheel rotary on the inside of the upper portion toward its free end, the second lever cornprising a second plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plate on the outside of the first plate toward the free mid of the lower portion, said second plate having a lower portion in face-to-face engagement with the outside of the lower portion of the first plate and an upper portion which is outwardly offset from the first plate, a cutter rotary on the inside of the upper portion of the second plate, the first lever being swingable relative to the second lever from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative reia tion to the cutter, the lower portion of the second plate being adapted for face-to-face engagement with the upper portion of the first plate as the first lever swings from open toward closed position to hold the upper portion of the first plate against springing from the plane of the lower portion of the first plate until the first lever reaches the closed position, whereupon the lower portion of the second plate clears the upper portion of the first plate to allow it to spring outward from said plane, said upper portion of the first plate having a bearing for the wheel extending outward from said upper portion and received in a slot in the second plate, said bearing being cngageable with a lower edge portion of the slot to hold the upper portion of the first plate against springing in its plane toward the lower portion of the first plate as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, and said slot being formed to provide clearance for the hearing so as to release said upper portion of the first plate for said springing movement in its plane when the first lever is in closed position.

11. A can opener having a first lever comprising a first plate having an outside flange along one edge, said first plate having a slot entering from its other edge and dividing it into upper and lower portions, a traction wheel rotary on the inside of the upper portion toward its free end, a second lever comprising a second plate joined at a pivot to the lower portion of the first plate on the outside of the first plate and having an outside flange along its edge lying opposite the flange of the first plate, a rotary cutter on the inside of the upper portion of the second plate, said cutter being backed by a fiangc providing an annular groove for receiving a can head with the flange engaging the top of the bead, the first lever being swingable relative to the second lever from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter, the first plate having an inwardly extending shoe at the lower edge of its slot and toward the open end of the slot, said shoe being inclined downward in the direction away from the open end of the slot and having an edge formed t0 provide an upper end projection engageable with the side of a can upon application of the can opener thereto when the can is vertical, said second plate having an inwardly extending tongue which projects over the upper edge of. the first plate when the first lever is in closed position for engaging upon the top of a can head, said engagements being on opposite sides of a vertical line passing through the cutter, as applied to a vertical can.

12. A can opener comprising first and second pivoted levers, the first lever having an arm carrying a traction wheel, the second lever carrying a rotary cutter, said cutter having a groove defined by a flange spaced from the cutter, the first lever being swingable relative to the second from an open to a closed position to dispose the wheel in cooperative relation to the cutter on opposite sides of a can rim, said arm being adapted for springing movement away from the cutter, said flange being adapted to receive reaction from said springing movement to maintain positive cutter rotation, and the second lever having a formation adapted for engagement with the arm to hold it against said springing movement as the first lever is swung from open to closed position, the arm being released for said springing movement when the first lever is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nordhaus Nov. 24, 1925 Lanphere Sept. 5, 1939 Arnesen Sept. 9, 1941 Carp Oct. 30, 1951

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